Pakistan makes peace deal to end pro-Taliban violence

The Pakistani government has agreed to withdraw troops and introduce Sharia law in the conflict-ravaged Swat valley in return for an end to Taliban suicide bombings and attacks on government buildings.

The peace deal was signed yesterday by the newly elected government of North-West Frontier Province and representatives of the extremist cleric Maulvi Fazlullah, whose fighters battled the army last year.

The breakthrough represents a coup for the government, which is eager to end militant violence, but will be warily regarded by the US, which advocates a strong hand against the Taliban.

The US deputy secretary of state, John Negroponte, told senators in Washington on Tuesday that any agreement was "something we're going to have to watch very carefully".

The Swat valley, an area of mountains and lush fields, became a battle zone last year after the army tried to tame Fazlullah's increasingly bold militants. The deal concedes several of their demands.

Under the 15-point pact, Islamic law will be introduced in Malakand division, Taliban prisoners will be released from jail, and their headquarters, a sprawling riverside madrasa, will be converted into an Islamic university.

After signing the pact militant representative Ali Bakht Khan called on the government to release 202 fighters within two weeks. "We will follow this agreement and cooperate to bring peace to Swat," he said.

In return, the Taliban will end their campaign of suicide bombing, shut militant training centres and hand over foreign militants operating in their area. During last year's fighting they were joined by militants from Waziristan, at the other end of Frontier province, and other countries such as Uzbekistan.

The deal will stand or fall on implementation. Previous deals with militants in the province have collapsed. This one contains no provision for disarming the fighters who will be allowed to keep their guns at home but not display them in public. Government officials said this was normal. "I don't think there is one home in the area that doesn't have a weapon," said Afrasiab Khattak of the Awami National party, which rules the province.

The militants have also undertaken to allow polio vaccinations to take place - Fazlullah had claimed they were part of a conspiracy to sterilise Muslims. They will also stop attacking barbers who shave beards, and girls who attend school.

The deal has not been signed by Fazlullah, who is believed to be in hiding, but negotiators were confident that it had his approval.